What is estate planning?

Estate planning is the process of arranging how your assets will be managed, protected, and distributed after your death. Setting your affairs in order during your lifetime ensures that your wishes are honored and your loved ones are cared for with minimal stress or legal complications. Estate plans vary widely, from simple wills to sophisticated trusts, tailored to your unique financial situation and family dynamics. A well-crafted estate plan may also include provisions for healthcare decisions, powers of attorney, and even tax strategies, providing peace of mind for you and your family.

A will is a legal document that outlines your wishes for distributing your assets after your death. It specifies who inherits your property, such as money, real estate, or personal belongings, but only controls assets held solely in your name. A will also designates an executor (or personal representative), the trusted individual responsible for carrying out your instructions. This person manages the estate through the probate process, ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes or, if no will exists, state law.

Probate is a court-supervised process to validate a will and distribute assets after someone’s death. It ensures that debts are paid, taxes are settled, and assets are transferred to the rightful heirs. However, probate can be time-consuming—often lasting nine months to three years—and costly, with executor or administrative fees typically ranging from 3-5% of the estate’s value. The duration and expense depend on the estate’s complexity, local laws, and whether disputes arise. Proper estate planning can help minimize or avoid probate.

Do I need an estate plan?

By thoughtfully organizing your affairs, you provide a final, meaningful gift to your family and loved ones, sparing them uncertainty and stress. Beyond asset distribution, a well-crafted estate plan safeguards your well-being during your lifetime. It can include a power of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions, so trusted individuals can act on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

Do I need to see an attorney?

You may need to. If your estate is straightforward (e.g., minimal assets like an old car or small savings), a handwritten will might work. But if you have children, substantial assets, or unique family dynamics, a comprehensive estate plan crafted with professional guidance is worth considering. Estate planning is a complex legal field, and a one-size-fits-all approach often falls short, especially for blended families or unique circumstances. An attorney tailors your plan to your specific needs, ensuring it aligns with your goals and complies with current laws. This personalized approach can minimize probate costs, reduce potential estate taxes, and prevent disputes among heirs. While hiring an attorney involves a cost, it’s a worthwhile investment compared to the risks of an inadequate plan, offering peace of mind that your family’s future is secure.

How often should I update my estate plan?

A good rule of thumb is to review your plan every seven to ten years to reflect your current wishes and circumstances. Major life events—such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, retirement, the sale of a business, or the loss of a loved one—should prompt an immediate review. Some people schedule annual check-ins with their attorney to keep their plan up-to-date with changes in laws or personal priorities.

What if I want to change one aspect of my plan?

If your estate plan is relatively recent, making minor updates is straightforward.

Can you put off estate planning until later?

There are no rules regarding what age to start planning your estate. A wise indicator would be if you’ve already acquired a property in your name. As your wealth flourishes, you can revisit your will to reflect the assets added to your possession. Planning your estate is a continuous process. Finding time to look into it may inspire you to grow your wealth and be mindful of actions that may impact your estate and heirs. If you need help understanding Louisiana’s specific laws or have estate planning questions, feel free to schedule a consultation with our team.

What is a covered scenario?

Planning your estate is a unique experience, and our legal approach will depend on your covered scenarios. They can range from the number of properties you have to your number of children. They may also include other services you need, such as tax planning and probate avoidance. Estate planning for blended families may also require more work from a lawyer.

Essential Planning is the most basic. It’s intended for your retired parents whose kids have already left home. It covers up to two properties and includes education on tax planning and unadministered succession filing. It also includes attorney consultation, SPA, email access, and revisions. Family Protection expands the coverage to up to five properties and to children of any age. It’s what we envision most of our business clients need, and it covers succession planning and trust funding for 1 asset a year. Advance Planning offers the most comprehensive package, covering up to ten properties with all prior features, plus trust funding for 3 assets a year, coverage for special needs and blended families, protection from nursing home costs, and more.

Who needs estate planning?

Estate planning is needed by anyone who owns assets or has loved ones they wish to protect and provide for in the future. This includes individuals with real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, or valuable possessions, as well as those with children, dependents, or beneficiaries. Estate planning also benefits single people, business owners, blended families, and those with special needs dependents.

What happens if I cancel and want to make updates?

You'll be requested to either resubscribe and pay another initiation fee, or you might be able to do a minor update as part of a legal advice session.

Value-price Projects:

Hire a Lawyer for One-off Projects

Be legally confident.

As a businessowner, you can never know when you’ll be facing lawsuits.

Sometimes, you go about your usual day, thinking you’ve done everything right, only to suddenly face a contract breach that threatens your operations and finances.

Good legal advice can save your day. An agile attorney can help you avoid shutdowns or minimize fines or asset losses.

Swiftly retaining a reliable counsel minimizes long-term damage.

At Spera Law Group, we can help you with:

Lawsuits, litigation, or dispute resolution
Employment laws
Contract issues
Mergers and acquisitions, shareholder conflict
Intellectual property
Any one-off legal business project you need our help with

Pay for value, not time.

At Spera Law Group, we give you predictability and transparency.

While many lawyers charge by the hour, we charge for the value we create, not the time we spend.

By aligning our price model with results, we aim to make you feel secure and satisfied.

Upfront & Win-Win Pricing

No hourly rates, no billing surprises. Our clients know exactly what they’ll pay before services begin, with pricing that incentivizes results.

Practical Legal Advice

We explain the difference between the law school answer and the real-world advice.

Systems Oriented
We continually refine our processes to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

We work mostly with growing businesses. This gives us a unique understanding of the wants and needs of business owners, the challenges they face, and the best strategies to handle them.

We charge for the value we create, not the time we spend.

#1 Initial Consult

Schedule a free initial consultation with our client engagement team to discuss your primary business challenge and determine whether we are a good fit for you.

Schedule Your Initial Consult

#2 Schedule Your Legal Advice Session

You can then book a legal advice session with one of our lawyers to get legal opinion, set your goals, and discuss pricing for the project.

At Spera Law Group, we strive to provide you with predictability and transparency. While many lawyers charge by the hour, we charge for the value we create, not the time we spend.

#3 Get a Quote

Once our attorney has an understanding of your case, they will let you know your legal options, prospects for success, and the expected cost.

We will give you three options based on your desired urgency, level of support, and inclusions.

We will also discuss our milestones, so you know what to expect from us.

At Spera Law, we overcommunicate so that our clients know what to expect every step of the way. And by aligning our price model with results, we aim to make you feel secure and satisfied

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of businesses do you work with?

Spera Law Group works with growing businesses. Our clients range from having five to hundreds of employees. We have a deep understanding of the business growth process, including partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

We handle most of the day-to-day legal needs of their business clients.

What are the primary areas you can help my business with?

Spera Law Group helps emerging businesses resolve and prevent legal issues on contracts, intellectual property, business succession, employees, mergers, and partnerships. We also help with real estate and dispute resolution.

Who will I speak with during the free initial consultation?

The free initial consultation is usually handled by our client engagement team. We will discuss your primary business challenge and determine whether we are a good fit for you.

How can I get legal advice from an attorney?

Legal advice requires a separate, dedicated Legal Advice Session with an attorney. This is a one-hour session offered for a flat fee.

Do I have to visit your New Orleans office for a meeting?

No, you do not have to come in person. We meet with clients remotely for all consultations and Legal Advice Sessions, typically over Zoom video.

Are you ready to get started?

Schedule Your Initial Consult